Cannabis

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An adult-use cannabis bill was announced February 24, 2021 by State Senators Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie).  The bill would legalize possession of up to 30 grams for those 21 and over, while limiting at-home cultivation to medicinal use.  Noting New Jersey’s recent legalization, and New York’s intention to legalize adult-use cannabis this…

Governor Ned Lamont introduced his new proposal for legalization of adult-use cannabis with the unveiling of his 2022-2023 budget.  This coincided with the release of Gov. Lamont’s proposed bill, titled An Act Responsibly and Equitably Regulating Adult-Use Cannabis.  The proposal includes legalization of possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis effective January 1, 2022,…

Last week, Virginia’s Senate and House of Delegates have both passed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis (S.B. 1406 and H.B. 2312, respectively), and Governor Ralph Northam has indicated he will sign the final legislation into law.  Common elements in both bills include:

  • Legalize possession of up to one ounce for individuals 21 and older
  • Households may

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On February 1, 2021, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced their intention to introduce cannabis reform legislation this year.  In a joint announcement, the Senators pledged to end the federal prohibition on cannabis, as well as “ensure restorative justice, protect public health and implement responsible taxes and regulations.”

While…

On July 2, 2019, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act (the “Act”), which amends the formerly known Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana Act (“CUMMA”) and expands New Jersey’s medical cannabis program.  Employers should pay particular attention to this new development because the Act includes a non-discrimination provision to protect…

This is a reminder to all restaurant and hospitality operators that, commencing on July 1, 2019, the New York City Department of Health will officially ban food and drink products containing Cannabidiol (“CBD”). All products containing CBD must be returned to the supplier or discarded prior to the July 1st enforcement deadline.  Failure to…

Although efforts to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use failed to win majority support prior to the end of the legislative session, both the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate have approved a significant decriminalization bill.  The bill, which Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he will sign, generally (1) reduces penalties for…

New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced on Tuesday that she is planning to introduce a bill later this week that would not only legalize adult cannabis use, but would also provide the ability for those previously convicted of low-level cannabis-related offenses to have their criminal records expunged.  Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes’ proposal goes…

Since the passage of the New York Compassionate Care Act (“CCA”) in July 2014 and the subsequent launch of the medical cannabis program in January 2016, New York employers have begun facing new legal challenges arising from the decriminalization of medical cannabis.  Specifically, employers need to understand their obligations (if any) to reasonably accommodate medical…